Tips for Growing, Cooking and Decorating with Lavender

Touted for its beauty and serene scent, the pleasing lavender plant is also favored for its culinary uses and health benefits. “Lavender has a scope that isn’t equaled by any other botanical,” says Jody Byrne, co-owner of Daybreak Lavender Farm in Streetsboro, Ohio, who uses it in food, crafts and soap. “You couldn’t have that discussion about oregano.”

Click ahead for ideas on how to use lavender in essential oils, soaps, sweet and savory foods, wreaths, wands and more—as well as tips for growing lavender in the Midwest.

To dry lavender for crafts or sachets, pick bunches just before buds open to ensure flowers stay on stems and hold their aroma. To finish the process, bundle stems by the dozen and hang upside down in a dark, well-ventilated space.

‘Coconut Ice’ For soft pink color that fades to white, select unique ‘Coconut Ice’ English lavender. Stems have a silver-green hue. Mix it with other lavenders for a multicolor bouquet. An upright growing habit makes it great as a container planting, too.

‘Royal Purple’ Retaining its color long after drying, ‘Royal Purple’ English lavender works well for crafts and wreaths. And its extra-pleasing aroma makes it a good choice for satchets to scent clothing. (The darker the buds, the stronger the aroma.)

Lavender essential oils relieve stress and tension. Sprinkle a few drops in a warm bath or on bed sheets. Add some to unscented lotion for a spalike treat when you moisturize. (Five drops are sufficient for a six-ounce bottle.)

Sweet and savory foods get a surprising lift from organic dried culinary buds. Whole or crushed, the buds boost meat rubs, salads, soups and desserts. The buds pair well with honey and lemon and herbs like rosemary and thyme.

In Lavender-Spiced Walnuts (pictured), rosemary and lavender flavor crunchy sweet-and-salty nuts. It's an addictive twist on the usual cocktail nut mix for a party, and tucked in a paper cone or bag, they make a great gift idea, too. The recipe comes from Willowfield Lavender Farm in Mooresville, Indiana.

Handmade wands keep linens fresh and moth-free. Bunch an odd number of stems (11 or 13). Tie 2 yards of ribbon at the base of the buds. Bend stems over the ribbon to surround buds; weave ribbon under and over stems until buds are covered. Secure with a bow.

Visit Midwest lavender farms mid-June through July (prime picking time) to harvest stems, make a craft or taste lavender-infused goodies. Most offer a variety of activities. For a list of U-pick farms in our region, go to midwestliving.com/farms[34].

Native to the Mediterranean, lavender thrives in full sun (eight hours a day is preferred) and well-drained soil. Kieran O’Connor of Willowfield Lavender Farm in Mooresville, Indiana, recommends a soil mix of one-third each of garden soil, sand or pea gravel, and organic compost. Add lime to increase soil pH (6.5 to 7.5 is ideal). Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart for good air circulation. Water regularly until established. After first bloom, prune and add more lime each spring.

Lavender plants should grow for seven to 10 years in the Midwest. Avoid varieties labeled as annuals or Spanish lavenders; they won’t survive our cold winters, says Jody Byrne, co-owner of Daybreak Lavender Farm in Streetsboro, Ohio. Click to the next slides for recommended English lavenders (Lavandula angustifolia) and lavandins (a hybrid lavender), which are easy to find and grow in our region; all are hardy to Zone 5.